Rhonda Vincent & The Rage Win a Bevy of SPBGMA Awards

As the title of her new album suggests, Rhonda Vincent appears to have a Good Thing Going. The bluegrass singer and mandolinist, who also plays the guitar and fiddle, was again named as Entertainer of the Year, while her band, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, took Vocal Group of the Year honors during the 34th Annual Bluegrass Awards presented by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) earlier this month at its 25th national convention in Nashville, Tennessee. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival, Feb. 1-9

For nine days in early February, the San Francisco Bay Area will be a Mecca for fans of bluegrass and old-time music.  Thirty shows featuring 57 bands and artists are planned at 17 small Bay Area venues between February 1 and 9 as part of the Ninth Annual San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival.  The festival also will include a number of free jam sessions at various locations, two-days of  screenings of bluegrass and old-time films at San Francisco’s Red Vic, kids shows, and a variety of Sunday afternoon workshops with personalized instruction from some of the festival’s performers at the Verdi Club.

[To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Jerry Douglas Voted CMA Musician of the Year Again

Jerry Douglas’ latest album may be entitled The Best Kept Secret but this accomplished musician/composer and producer has been a known quantity in music circles for some time now, and he keeps raking in awards for his musicianship. On Nov. 7, he added his third CMA Musician of the Award to his collection, which also includes a dozen Grammys and a couple of Instrumentalist of the Year honors from the Americana Music Association, among others. CMA award winners are chosen by their peers – industry professionals who are members of the Country Music Association. Douglas is, perhaps, best known as a stellar dobro player, whose slide work can be heard on more than 1,000 albums – including the hit “O Brother, Where Art Thou” soundtrack – in addition to his own solo releases. He has toured with Alison Kraus & Union Station and others. Although he has not released a solo album since 2005, Sugar Hill released Jerry Douglas – Best of the Sugar Hill Years as part of its Americana Masters Series earlier this year.

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Myrtle Beach Hosts South Carolina State Bluegrass Festival

Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys and The Grascals (the reigning, two-time IBMA Entertainers of the Year who were profiled here in a Jan. 30, 2007 feature that is available in the archives) are among the acts slated to perform during the 38th Annual South Carolina State Bluegrass Festival, Nov. 22-24, at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

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Crooked Still Announces Change in Lineup

Rushad Eggleston, the inventive 28-year-old cellist with Crooked Still, will play his last show with the popular alternative bluegrass band at The Iron Horse in Northampton, Massachusetts, on Nov. 18. The 2003 Berklee College of Music graduate and Grammy nominee, whose improvisational riffs on the cello have played an integral role in helping Crooked Still bend the boundaries of traditional music since its inception in the summer of 2001, is being replaced by multi-instrumentalist Tristan Clarridge. Young old-time fiddler Brittany Haas is also joining the band. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

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IBMA Brings a ‘World of Bluegrass’ to Nashville in October

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s annual “World of Bluegrass” is slated for October 1-7, 2007 in Nashville, Tennessee. Featured events include an International Bluegrass Music Awards Show, a four-day IBMA Business Conference and a three-day Bluegrass Fan Fest. Mandolin player and vocalist Sam Bush hosts the 18th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show, which takes place Thursday night, October 4 at the Grand Ole Opry House... The IBMA Business Conference, October 1-4 at the Nashville Convention Center/Renaissance Hotel will feature an array of artist showcases, an exhibit hall with more than 100 booths, professional development seminars, and plenty of opportunities for informal networking... More than 60 bluegrass artists are scheduled to perform and greet their fans during Bluegrass Fan Fest, October 5-7 at the Nashville Convention Center/Renaissance Hotel. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

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Summer Festivals Offer Bluegrass Fans Plenty to Pick From

From Telluride in Colorado to Grey Fox in New York, Podunk in Connecticut and Thomas Point in Maine, and many places in between, there are plenty of festivals for bluegrass fans and pickers to enjoy across the country this summer. These range from one-day events in Minnesota, New York and Oregon to three- and four-day gatherings with workshops, jam sessions and camping. Here’s a sampling of 30 bluegrass festivals (a few of which also include other genres of music) slated between June 21 and Labor Day Weekend, along with websites to consult for further information. [To see the entire column, click on the headline].

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Bluegrass Festivals Sprout in June

Bluegrass fans will converge on Preston, Connecticut; Wind Gap, Pennsylvania; Telluride, Colorado; and Weston, Vermont in coming weeks. The Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival is slated for May 31-June 3; the Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival is set for June 7-10; and both the 2007 Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the Jenny Brook Family Bluegrass Festival take place June 21-24. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

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Americana, Bluegrass & Roots Festivals Springing Up

Many fans of bluegrass, roots and Americana music will be heading to Driftwood, Texas and Wilkesboro, North Carolina in April for major festivals.

The 20th Annual Old Settler’s Music Festival, slated for April 19-22 at the Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood, Texas is not as well-known outside the state as some other festivals in the Austin area – and that’s part of its allure. Old Settler’s Music Festival also takes place during what’s usually the height of Texas Hill Country’s wildflower season, although few bluebonnets were in bloom last year due to earlier drought conditions. [Click on title in red to see the entire article]

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The Grascals: Expanding Bluegrass’ Horizons While Remaining True to Its Roots

By Michael Kornfeld

The Grascals - reining International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainers of the YearDuring their short time together as a band, Rounder recording artists The Grascals have accomplished quite a bit. The Grascals are the reining International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainers of the Year, having been named the IBMA Emerging Artists of the Year in 2005. The group made its Grand Ole Opry debut in ... [Click the title in red to see the entire article]

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